Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 761.14 million BoP, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sri Lanka, 1970–2024
Source: Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D. Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 761.14 million BoP, current US$ for foreign direct investment, net inflows in 2024.
That represents a change of up 6.8% on the previous year and down 14.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sri Lanka peaked at 1.61 billion BoP, current US$ in 2018 and was at its lowest, -1.22 million BoP, current US$, in 1977.
Sri Lanka ranks 107th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.95 million BoP, current US$ | -1.22 million BoP, current US$ | 46.91 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 40.71 million BoP, current US$ | 19.74 million BoP, current US$ | 63.57 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 155.10 million BoP, current US$ | 43.36 million BoP, current US$ | 430.06 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 351.41 million BoP, current US$ | 171.79 million BoP, current US$ | 752.20 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 950.77 million BoP, current US$ | 477.56 million BoP, current US$ | 1.61 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 676.94 million BoP, current US$ | 434.08 million BoP, current US$ | 884.15 million BoP, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 104 Libya 794.70 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 105 Somalia 765.00 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 106 El Salvador 763.72 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 108 Tunisia 759.60 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 109 New Caledonia 725.76 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 110 Bosnia and Herzegovina 716.58 million BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Sri Lanka
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP -3.9% (2025)
- Inflation of consumer prices -4.8% (2025)
- GDP per capita 4,439 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) 17.1% (2025)
- Gross domestic product (GDP) 96.58 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- GDP per capita in international and market dollars 4,439 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- DEC alternative conversion factor 300.95 LCU per US$ (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) 2.39 trillion current LCU (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) 7.96 billion current US$ (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products 3.79 trillion current LCU (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sri Lanka?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sri Lanka was 761.14 million BoP, current US$ in 2024, according to Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 1.61 billion BoP, current US$ in 2018.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.22 million BoP, current US$ in 1977.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Sri Lanka ranks 107th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in the reporting economy. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and other capital. Direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the ordinary shares of voting stock is the criterion for determining the existence of a direct investment relationship. Data are in current U.S. dollars.